Bonding

Bonding can be used as a conservative restorative procedure for teeth that are chipped, cracked, crooked, or discolored.

How Is It Done?

The tooth is prepared for the procedure by lightly etching (creating micropores for increased retention) the surface and applying a bonding liquid. A composite resin is applied and sculpted into the desired shape and hardened using a curing light.  It’s then trimmed, smoothed, and polished to a natural appearance.

Considerations

The bonding procedure can often be completed in a single office visit and can improve the appearance of a tooth significantly. However, since the plastic resin used is not as strong as your natural tooth enamel, it is more likely to stain, chip or break than natural teeth. Bonding typically lasts three to five years before need of repair.